This is a new translation of the chapters on al-Khulafa’ar- Rashidun from as-Suyuti’s Tarikh al-Khulafa’. These chapters shine with a genuine light. I have continued beyond the first four khulafa’to include al-Hasan ibn Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased with him, because he was the fifth of the khulafa’ and he legitimately transferred the Khilafah to Muawiyah, may Allah be pleased with him.

 
The translation lacks the majority of references to the books which are the sources of the hadith quoted, because whoever is interested find the Arabic text easily available.

 
Furthermore the translation stays as close as possible to the original Arabic at the risk of a slight awkwardness in the English. Where necessary I have added within parentheses whatever seemed necessary for an understanding of the book.

 
The history outlined in these pages is further illuminated by a work which is even greater than it, but is itself an exposition that assumes a knowledge of what is in these pages, that is al-Awasim min al-Qawasim (‘Defence Against Disaster’) by Qadi Abu Bakr ibn al-Arabi, may Allah show him mercy Whereas as-Suyuti gives most authentic traditions relating to these khilafahs, Qadi Abu bakr lays bare the real significance of many of the events which as-Suyuti so expertly relates.

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